PhD Entrepreneurship Challenge

This year Australian PhD students will have the opportunity to participate in the first Australian-French Entrepreneurship Challenge planned for 2-3 June at the Australian National University (ANU).

Dynamic teams supported by expert mentors from French and Australian businesses will compete to design an innovative and profitable start-up concept.

The event is based on the 24 hours for Entrepreneurship challenge: a flagship event run in France since 2011 by the French National Association for Research and Technology and Novancia Business School. In Australia, the event is highlighted as part ofCréative France, a series of innovative and creative meetings scheduled all over Australia.

The Australian-French Entrepreneurship Challenge was announced today by Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne, and His Excellency Christophe Lecourtier, Ambassador of France to Australia.

“Today’s PhD candidates are the drivers of tomorrow’s innovation and they need business development skills to make this happen,” said Mr Pyne.

“The two-day challenge will give students in any field of the natural sciences, including the humanities; social, earth, chemical or biological sciences; technology; engineering or medicine an opportunity to leverage their scientific knowledge to broaden their entrepreneurial skills.

“It will help equip students from around Australia with the entrepreneurial skills required to become the next business leaders and boost the global competitiveness of our research and industry, in line with the objectives of the National Innovation & Science Agenda.”

HE Christophe Lecourtier is very supportive of Australia’s interest in co-organising this new event.

“Australia and France are world-class research performers and both deliver excellent science. We strongly share the views that enhanced cooperation between academia and industry is key to deliver on the innovation agenda. International partnering is crucial in this area, bringing in the new opportunities that can generate sound economic and societal impact”, Ambassador Lecourtier said.

“One member of the successful team will be selected to fly to France to experience first-hand the country’s thrilling innovation ecosystem and build on international networks and linkages initiated during the challenge.”

The Australian-French Entrepreneurship Challenge is co-organised by the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and the Culture, Education, Science and Technology section of the French Embassy, with support from the Australian and French governments, ANU and the Australian Academy of Science.

The event will be held at ANU in Canberra from 8.00am Thursday 2nd to 8.00pm Friday 3rd June 2016, with a short training session proceeding the continuous 24 hour challenge period, followed by an award ceremony. Interested applicants can find more information and an application form.